Mechanical clothes washer and drier



Dec. 30, 1930. P. E. GELDHOF 1,787,243

MECHANICAL CLOTHES WASHER AND DRIER Filed Dec. 27, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 MY mivan-1-11.;- a... V

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MECHANICAL CLOTHES WASHER AND- DRIER Filed Dec. 27. 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 1 1| I I l ll .3! H L 27 l I Z0 i v 7 I \M/ EE'E" I I g ATVTD N575 Dec, 30, 1930. P. E. GELDHOF 1,787,243

I MECHANICAL CLOTHES'WASHER AND DRIER Filed Dec. 2'7, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I //v VE/YVTUR 695. ma 5? v WIT/V555 I v v 5 v ATTlaFe/vz s Patented Dec. 30, 1930 v UNITED vsnvras PE'1EB E.- GELDHOF, F SYRACUSE, YORK, ASSIGNOR TO SYRACUSE WASHING MACHINE CORPORATION, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF DELA- WARE PATENT OFFICE uncnmrcan cno'rnns WASHER Am) DRIER Application flled- December 27, 1927. Serial No.- 242,613.

- This invention relates'to a mechanical of a single vat is divided into separate u clothes washer and drier in which the interior right compartments of unequal capacity, e larger compartment being adapted to receive a suitable washing mechanism and the smaller compartment a centrifugal drying mechanism, both mechanisms being operated by a unit power plant mounted on the frame of the machine at the underside of the vat through the medium of upright shafts extending through openings in the bottom of the vat and operatively connected respectively to the washing mechanism and to the drying mechanism. U

The main object is to provide a more com- 1 pact machine for both washing and drying urposes at a lower cost than has heretofore een practised so that it may be installed in i 29 less space and more conveniently operated than 1 machines of this type as heretofore made.

Other objects and uses relating to specific parts of the apparatus will be brought out in the following description. v

I In the drawings I Figure 1 is a top plan of a combined clothes washing and drying machineembodying the variousfeatures of my invention.

' Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken in the plane of line 22, Figure 4f Figure 3 is a detail vertical sectional view taken in the plane of line 33, Figure 2, showing more particularly a part of the clutch controlled driving mechanism for the washer.

Figure 4 is an'enlarged side elevation of the machine shown in Figure 1, the dotted lines indicating different positions of adjust- 1 -b .ment of the discharge end of the pipe leading .a 4 I v from the pressure side of the pump.

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertically sectional viewof the machine taken in the plane of line 55,'Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view of the connection between the drier and itsoperatthe plane of line '77, Figure 5. 7 v

Figure 8 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, partly broken away, and partly in elevation, of the outlet pipe leading from the pressure side ofthe pump.

Figure 9 is a detail horizontal sectional tu'ew taken in the plane of line 99, Figure 7 showing more particularly the connection between the washer and its operating shaft.

Figure 10 is an enlarged detail horizontal sectional view taken in the plane of line 10-10, Figure 5. I l

Figure 11 is a transverse vertical sectional ilview taken in the plane of line 11-11", Figure "Fi ure 12 is a side elevation of the'combined clutch and brake mechanism, shown in Figures 10 and 11 for controlling the operation of the pump. I

Figure 13 is a face view of the detached spline connection between the brake disk and driving pinion for the drier cage.

As illustrated, the main supporting frame comprises lower and upper horizontal decks -1- and --2- supported in vertically spaced parallel relation upon suitable legs 3- having their lowered ends secured to the angles of atriangular brace and provided with suitable casters 5 to fa-- cilitate the movement of the machine along and upon a floor or other suitable support, the brace 4-'being disposed in a horizontal plane some distance below the lower deck 1 and above the casters'5' to constitute a part of the frame for additionally bracing circular and co-axial and are of substantially the same diameter for receiving and sup porting a cylindrical vat --6-- of approximately the same diameter co-axial therewith. The upper surfaceof the lower deck -1'- and bottom of the vat resting thereon are sub- .stantially flat while the upper edge of the 7 is an enlarged detail vertical vat is beaded at 7- for reinforcing purposes and is adapted to receive and support the upper deck 2 which is provided with a depending annular flange 8-' extending around the upper end of the vat to assistin holding the vat and upper deck against relative lateral movement.

The tub or vat 6 is provided with an upright transverse partition '9 at one side of its vertical axis for dividing the interior of the vat into separate compartments -l and 11 of unequal capacities, the larger compartment 10 serving to receive a suitable washing mechanism '12 while the smaller compartment is adapted to receive a drying mechanism 13 hereinafter more fully described.

The upper deck '2-. is provided with separate openings 14 and registering with the corresponding compartments -10 and 11 to permit the entrance and removal of clothes to and from said compartments, the opening -15- for the compartment 11 being of sufficient size toopermit the removal and replacement of the drying mechanism 13- therethrough.

These openings 14 and -15- are normally closed by suitable lids 16- and 16' to protect the .user against contact with the washing and drying mechanisms and also to prevent the escape of washing fluid through the corresponding openings when said mechanisms are in action for washing or drying purposes, it being understoodthat the lids are 1novable,'when desired. 7

The lower end and opposite upright edges of the partition 9. are welded or otherwise permanently secured to the bottom and upright sides of the vat 6 to extend from said bottom to the underside of the upper deck which is provided with a groove 17 for receiving the upper edge of the partition.

The intermediate portion ofthe partition 9- is arched inwardly about a vertical axis parallel with the axis of the vat some distance beyond the transverse plane of the opposite upright edges of the partition and slightly beyond the adjacent portion of the drying mechanism 13 to allow the operation of the latter without friction therewith and, therefore, the circumferential length of the compartment 10- between the ends ofthe partition 9- is somewhat greater than half the entire circumferenceof the vat to allow angular movement of the washing mechanism -12 in reverse directions through anarc of at least one hundred and eighty degrees as will be hereinafter more fully explained. Washing mechanism receiving the corresponding end of the shaft -19, the opposite sides of said opening and adjacent sides of the shaft being flattened and engaged with each other for transmitting rotary motion from the shaft to the'impeller A is provided with a vertical opening 21 for i screw 24 the impeller may be displaced upwardly from the shaft when desired.

The gland comprises a hollow upright post -26- surrounding the shaft l9 and secured to the upper face of the bottom of the vat 6 and to the lower deck 1 by clamping screws -27, Figure 7.

The lower end of the post 26 is re-" duced in diameter and extended through registering openings in the bottom of the vat 6-'- and deck 1- and is threaded internally for receiving an externally threaded collar 28,--- by which the packing of the gland 20- may be tightened to prevent leakage of the water from the interior of the vat downwardly along the shaft 19.

The upper end of the post 26-- extends upwardly some distance into the interior of the hub 18- of the impeller 12 and v is threaded externally for engagement by an internally threaded collar 29- which is adapted to receive a packing'collar 30- of leather or equivalent material having an outwardly flared base portion 31' firmly clamped between the upper end of the collar -20- and adjacent end of the post -26- and its remaining portions extended upward; 1y through the collar for direct engagement with the adjacent portion of the shaft -19.

The interior walls of the upper end of the collar 29 are tapered upwardl and engage'the periphery of the upward y extendmg portion of the packing collar -30- so that when the collar '29 is screwed downwardly or tightened upon the upper end of assist in deflecting the water outwardly away from the shaft and post and, therefore, away from both of the glands and also serving to keep the clothes out of contact with the upper gland and post as the impeller I is oscillated by the angular movement of the shaft.

The impeller 12 is movable in a horizontal plane near the bottom of the tub and about the vertical axis of the shaft 19 and when oscillated in a manner hereinafter described, serves to impart a similar motion to the washing fluid and clothes which, by reason of their inertia, offers more or less resistance to such movement so that the oscillation of the impeller produces more or less pressing action upon the wet clothes to remove dirt and other foreign matter therefrom.

Drier mechanism The clothes drying mechanism preferably of the centrifugal type and. comprises, in this instance, a cylindrical foraminous cage or basket 13 open at the tog and closed at the bottom and having its ower end provided with an upwardly extending central-hub -32 secured at its u per end to the upper end of an upright sha t -33- which extends vertically through registering openings in the bottom of the vat --6- and underlying portion of the deck 1- as shown more clearly in Figure 5.

upper end of the hub -32-, said opening and adjacent portionof the shaft being provided with oppositeflattened sides engaging each other to transmit rotary motion from said shaft to the cage, Figure 6.

- The cage is held against vertical movement by lower and upper collars -37 and -38-- and a clamping screw -39 which engages in a threaded aperture in the upper end of the shaft -33 in a manner similar to that described 'for the clamping screw -24- forthe impeller -12.

Suitable bearings 40 and-41 are interposed between the post 34- and lower end of the hub --32- and between the upper end of the post -34.- and shaft -33 respectively' to steady the shaft and impeller in their rotary movements. 7

The basket -13- extends nearly thefull height of the compartment 11 between the lower and upper decks 1'- and -2-- with sufficient clearance at the bottom and top to avoid friction with said decks. -'I he diameter of the'basket is nearly equal to the distance across the widest portion of the compartment -11- between the partition -,9 and outer wall of said compartment with sufiicient clearance at the sides to avoid.

friction with those parts while the diameter of the hub 32- is relatively small as compared with that of the interior of the basket to allow ample capacity for the placing of,

clothes within the. basket and around the hub which latter extends from the bottom of the basket a trifle more than half the height thereof so that the clothes may be filled in from the bottom upwardly around Driving mechanism,

The power unit for driving the washer shaft -19 and drier shaft 33- is mounted upon the underside of the lower deck -1- as shown more clearly in Figures 4 and 5 and-comprises a horizontal electric motor 42 having its case secured by bolts '43-to the underside of the deck 1 and its armature shaft --44 extended laterally and horizontally into a gear case 45 which is also secured to the underside of the deck 1- by bolts 46.

' The main driving shaft 44 is journaled in suitable bearings in the gear case '45 and is provided with a worm 47 engaged with a worm gear 48, Figure 2, said worm gear being journaled upon a stationary upright shaft or stud -.49 within the gear case 45.

The shaft or stud 49 is removably secured to the bottom of the gear case 45 by clamping nuts 50- to hold the same against rotation and also-to permit it to be removed when desired, as shown more clearly in Figure 3. A peripherally grooved clutch collar 51- is mounted upon the hub of the gear 48 for axial movement relatively thereto and for rotary movement therewith and is provided with one or more clutch pins --52 guided in suitable openings in the gear -48 at one side of the. axis thereof for movement into and out of engagement with apertures -53 in :1 sn- "perposed clutch disk 54 which. is also loosely mounted upon the stud 49 coaxial with the gear 48. I

Any suitable means may be employed for shifting the clutch collar 51- into and out vof clutching engagement with the disk .-54 and for this purpose is provided a lever -55- pivoted at 56- at one side of the axis of the shaft 49 to extend around .and in engagement with the groove collar -51. The other end of said lever is connected by a link 56 to one arm of a bell crank lever -57 -"which is pivoted at --58 to a suitable boss on the exterior of the top- ,of the gear case 45' and has its other arm connected by a link -59- to a crank shaft This crank shaft -60 extends upwardly from the top of the'gear case -45 along -the outside of the decks 1 and 2-- and vat 6 and is journaled in suitable bearings 61 on the lower and upper decks, the upper end of the crank shaft being provided with a crank 62. by which it may be rotated to effect the shifting of the clutch collar -'51 intoand out .of clutching engagement with the disk -54.

The disk -54-- is provided with an upwardly projecting pin or stud 63' eccentric to the axis of the shaft 49 for receiving one end of a pitman link -64 having its other end. pivotally connected at -65 to a toothed segment -66 This segment 66 is pivoted at --67 upon and within the gear case 45- some distance to one side of its connection with the link 64 to move about a vertical axis parallel with the axis of the shaft or stud -49 and meshes with a pinion -68- which is secured to the washer shaft 9 within the gear case 45-.

The gear 48- may be driven continuously by the motor 42- and when the crank shaft '60- is operated to disengage the clutch collar -51- from its companion clutch disk --54 the washing mechanism will beat rest even though the gear 48 may continue to rotate, but. when the crank shaft 60 is again operated to shift theclutch collar 51- into clutching engagement with its companion disk -54- the resultant rotation of the disk -54- will cause a corresponding oscillation or angular movement of the toothed segment 66 which, in'turn, will effect a corresponding angular movement of the impeller '12- through the medium of the pinion ,-68 and shaft 19.

In order to furtherprevent the leakage of water from the' interior of the vat along F tlie shaft 19- and into the gear case the 7 portion of the shaft between the top of the with a receptacle 70 underlying the out gear case and underside of the lower deck 1- is provided with an outwardly and downwardlyinclined deflecting plate -69- while the top of the gear case is provided er edges of the deflecting plate 69 to receive any water which may be deflected from said plate and to conduct the same away from I the shaft -19 as shown more clearly in Figure 7 which also shows the lower end of the shaft 19 as stepped in a suitable bearing -71- within and upon the gear case. I

An additional shaft 72 is journaled in suitable bearings within the gear case V '45' co-axial with the armature shaft --44 and is operatively connected to said armature shaft by a coupling member 73'- which is secured to both shafts to cause them to rotate in unison and is provided at its inner end with a socket 74 adapted to :receive a co-axial axially movable cone.

clutch collar 75. g

This collar --75- is loosely mountedupon the shaft 72 and is provided with an axially elongated hub splined to the hub of a gear 76- which is also loosely mounted upon the shaft 72 and is provided with a hardened end-thrust bearing -77- engaging the shaft bearing on the adjacent end of the gear case -45-.

connection between the clutch member -75.

and gear 76 being shown at 79 and consisting of a tongue on the gear engaging ina groove on the adjacent end of the hub of the clutch section -75. A

The gear -76 meshes with a companion gear -80 on the upright drier shaft 3? and serves to rotate the'drier cage -13 when the clutch 75 is engaged with the clutch section 7 L.

Suitable means is provided for shifting the clutch member 75 axially against the action of the spring -78- and for simultaneously breaking or retarding the rotation of the clutch member .75 and drier mechanism driventhereby and for this purpose, a rock shaft 81- is journaled in suitable vbearings 82- on one side oftheigear case 45 and is provided with crank arms -83' pivotally connected at -.84- to axially extending lugs 85- on diametrically opposite sides of a clutch-shifting and brake ring 86-..

The ring 86 is substantially circular and loosely supported around the adjacent portions ofthe clutch sections 74 and 7 5' by means of the crank arms 83-. said ring being movable into and outof frictional engagement with a brakesnrface 87- which is secured to an outwardly projecting annular flange -88- on the clutch section 75-, as shown more clearly in Fig. 10.

The outer end of the rock shaft 81- is provided with a crank arm 89e which is connectedby a link -90 to thecrank arm -91 of an upright crank shaft -92--.

This crank shaft -92- is journaled in suitable bearings -"93 on the peripheries of the lower and upper decks -1- and 2 at the same side of the machine as the clutch-operating shaft 6 for. the washing mechanism and is provided at its upper end with a handle 94- adjacent the handle -62-, both handles being located near the top of the machine where they are easily accessible for operationi Pump mechanism Suitable power driven means is rovided for withdrawing the washing an fluids from the Washing compartment and drying compartment 11 and, for this purpose, a centrifugal pump case '95 is secured by bolts 96-v to the outer end of the gear case 45- and is provided with a rotary impeller 97- on the outer end of a rotary shaft 98 which is journaled in a suitable bearing 99- in the pump case 95'- co-axial with the shaft 72 to which it is connected by a coupling 100 torotate therewith as shown in Figure. 10.

The suction side of the pump case 95- is connected by'an open conduit 101 to an outlet 102- in the bottom of the drier compartment 11- and is also connected by a branch conduit 103 to an upright outlet conduit 104 leading downwardly from the bottom of the washing compartment. 7 I The branch conduit 103f leading from the washing compartment 10-- 'to the suction side of the pump is provided with a valve 105 having an operating handle 106. by which, the valve may be opened side of the pump through the conduit -101.

and closed for controlling communication between the washing compartment and pump, the drying compartment being in constantly open communication with the suction The pressure side of the pump 95 is connected by a conduit.-107 to the lower 1 end of an upright conduit -'108'which extends vertically along the outside of the vat 6 and has its upper end secured to a cup shaped collar 109 which, together with a clamping plate 110-, are secured by screws 11-, to the inner and outer surfaces respectively of the adjacent portion of the'vat 6 as shown more clearly in Figure 8.

The collar 109- is provided with a chamber 112 communicating through a P 3$S.age'113 with the interior of the vat to receive and drain ofl' any fluid which may escape through the top of the conduit 108- into said vat.

The conduit 108--extends downwardly some distance below the level of the conduit 107 and is provided with a drainage cock 114.' adapted to be opened at will for dhaining; the pump and any wateror sedi ment which may lodge therein from the washing compartment or from the drying compartment.

' 1 7 An extension conduit or nozzle 115 is.telescopically mounted'in the upper end of the conduit 108- for angular and axial movement relatively thereto and has its upper end curved laterally for projecting the fluid expelled therethrou h from the pressure side of the pump in di erent directions as, for

rinsing example, for returning said fluid to the washing compartment or to other receptacles or waste pipe as shown by dotted lines in Figures 1, 4 and 5,- or, if desired, the upper end of the nozzle may be directed to discharge clean water from the pump into .the drying compartment for rinsing purposes.

Operation It will be observed from the foregoing description that the washin mechanism and pump may be operated slmultaneousl independently of the drier mechanism an that y the drier mechanism and pump may be operated simultaneously independently of the washing mechanism; I

For example, assuminr that the motor shaft 4- isbein driven continuously in one direction and t at it is desired to operate the washing mechanism independently of the drier mechanism, then the hand crank '94 will first be operated to disengage the clutch section 75 from its companion clutch-member 73- at which time the brake rin --86- will engage the brake surface 8 to prevent the operation of the drying mechanism.

The hand crank 62- will then be adjusted to engage the clutch pins 52- with the clutch disk 54- for rotating said disk and thereby transmitting oscillating motion to the impeller shaft 19 and impeller.

through the medium of the pinion 76- and gear 80, it being understood that the cage 13 will be at rest while the clothes to be dried are placed therein and that the hand crank"62 will have been-adjusted to disconnect the clutch members 52 and 54 to stop'the rotation of the washingmember 12.

Now, while the washing mechanism is at rest a fresh batch of soiled clothes may be placed in the washing compartment '--10+ preparatory to' washing after which the hand crank --,62 may be adjusted toengage the clutch pins 52;- with the clutch disk 54- for. effecting the operation of the washing mechanism upon the fresh batch of clothes while the previously washed batch is being dried in and by the rotation of the case --13--. a

[During the washing of the clothes in the washing compartment the valve 105 is preferably closed to retain the washing fiuidin the vat, but, on the other hand, the washing fluid expelled from the be made in the detail'construction without 7 tition wall.

clothes by centrifugal force within the cage -13 will gravitate through the outlet -lO2 to the suction side of the pump 95- from which'it will be expelled through the conduits 108 and -115 to be returned to the washing vat or to any other desired 1 compartment by a proper adjustment to the v nozzle 115-.

Or, by opening the drainage cock -114- the water may be drained from pump and drier compartment and from the conduit '108 and when the valve --105 is opened water from the washing compartment may alsi be drained. through the same drainage coo The mechanism herein shown and described is particularly simple, compact and efficient, but obviously various changes may departing from the spirit of this invention.

1. Apparatus of the character described comprising a cylindrical vat having a circular bottom, a vertical partition wall extending transversely of the vat and providing two chambers arranged side by side within the vat, a power driven vertical shaftextending upwardly intoone chamber, a centrifuge on the upper. end of the shaft, a second powerdriven vertical shaft extending upwardly intothe other chamber closely adjacent the partition-wall and substantially midway of its transverse extent, a clothes washing elementonthe upper end of the second shaft. said-element oscillating through an arc of substantially 180 toward and from the par- 2. Apparatus bowed portion of the partition and positioned closely adjacent thereto,'a second power-driven vertical shaft extending upwardly into the other chamber closely adjacent thev partition wall and substantially midway of its transverse extent, a clothes washing ele-- ment on the upper end of the second shaft,

said element oscillating through an arc of substantially 180 toward and away from the partition wall.

3. Apparatus of the character described comprising a cylindrical vat, a vertical partition wall extending across the vat and providing two chambers arranged side by side within the vat, the partition being centrally bowed toward one chamber, a power driven vertical shaft extending upwardly into each chamber .in spaced relation to the bowed portion of the partition, a' centrifuge on the upper end of the shaft in one chamber and conforming substantially to the curvature of the bowedportion of the partition and posi tioned closely adjacent thereto and a" clothes washing element on the upper end of the shaftin the other chamber having one end fixed to the shaft and a free end movable toward and away from said partition at each 7 side of the shaft carrying the same. I In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 13th day of December, 1927.

., PETER E. GELDHOF.

of the character described a comprising a cylindrical vat having a circular bottom, a vertical partition wall hav- 1 ing a bowed portion extending transversely of the vat and providing two chambers arranged side by side within the vat, a powerdriven vertical shaft extending upwardly into one chamber, a centrifuge on the upper I end of the shaft and having a wall conforming substantially. to the curvature of' the 

